Jun 29, 2007

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                      

June 2007

CONTACTS: Judi Durant, Nancy Hamilton  (239)338-3500

Area 'Guests First' Customer Service Training Workshops Heighten People, Workplace Skills

LEE COUNTY, FL – As demands for top quality customer service continue to impact an increasingly competitive marketplace, the Lee County Visitor & Convention Bureau (VCB) is preparing for its latest Guests First customer service training workshops July through September.

The series of upcoming workshops will be led by professional trainer Anne Schroeder, president of Schroeder Management Consultants, and VCB Tourism Education Manager Mike Fischer.  Topics will include impressions and images in service; the power of words; active listening to understand customer needs; delivering the service; resolving customer concerns; using age demographics; and telephone, face-to-face, and e-mail communication. 

Two levels of workshops will be offered, one for those who have never attended Guests First training and another level for those who have previously attended.

Virtually any hospitality business requiring frequent public contact will benefit from participation in Guests First, such as employees in tourism and allied industries, restaurants, service trades, and transportation companies.  Classes offer the opportunity for front-line, as well as management staff, to refresh and sharpen their customer service skills.

The program is held in collaboration with the Florida Institute of Government/Florida Gulf Coast University.  2007 sponsors are the Bonita Bay Trianon Hotel, DiamondHead Beach Resort, Hilton Garden Inn, Sundial Beach Resort, and Hampton Inn Cape Coral.  Times for the two-hour workshops are 9:30 – 11:30 a.m. or 1 – 3 p.m.  Pre-registration is required due to space limitations.  All classes are free to tourism and hospitality employees.

Guests First, which has educated over 2,800 class graduates, builds solid customer service skills and aids in ensuring that employees make a difference when they interact with visitors to Lee County.  To maintain a company's competitive edge today, local employers recognize the importance of training and development for their people.

For more information, including workshop dates, locations, or to register for a class online, contact Visitor Services at (239)590-4855 or click on the "Guests First" section of www.LeeVisitorServices.com .

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